When's the Best Time of Year to Have a Baby?

When's the Best Time of Year to Have a Baby?

Winter, Spring, Summer, Fall…which is the the best season to have a baby? While a pregnancy is thrilling at any time of the year, many moms still say there’s no harm in trying to time your conception. Here’s why moms like (or don't like) giving birth at various times times of year.

Sharon F., who gave birth to four of her six children during spring months, offers another reason have a baby in the spring: motivation to get moving. "Spring births make you feel alive, and getting back into the energetic groove afterwards is easier.”

Summer Babies

Moms have varied opinions of giving birth during the summer months. As Lynne H. explains, one of the main downsides to having a baby in the summer is being pregnant during the season's high heat: “You might not want to be 9 months pregnant in the raging heat. That happened to me and it was very difficult - I remember I almost passed out at the bank.”

Still, many moms love having a baby in the summer months. As Megan W. shared: “I had my son in July and it was great to be able to get out and walk off the baby weight.” And Brianna J. loved the fashion freedom that being pregnant during summer conferred: “I like being able to not worry about looking fat in summer clothes because you’re preggo lol. … [During] the beginning of the pregnancy it’s snowy out or cold out and it doesn’t matter that you don’t want to leave the house because of all the morning sickness."

Another positive aspect of summer babies? Summer birthday parties! As Sherri C. explains: "Summer [is] so much easier for birthday parties. Not too rainy or cold (spring), not to cold (winter), not a possibility of being too cold (fall)."

Fall Babies

When's the worst time of year to have morning sickness? As Denise T. points out giving birth in the fall could mean less sickness during the summer: "Though I was bigger through the summer months, I wasn't as morning sick as the spring months, and I would take size over nausea in the summer any time."

And as Kelly H.'s story proves, being pregnant in the summer isn't such a bad thing: "I had a wonderfully cool summer pregnancy, loved my summer maternity clothes and wearing flip flops for my huge feet (again). We spent a lot of time at the pool which was nice [for] relieving some of the achiness and weight, and I wasn't so worried about slipping on ice!" And on the issue of school-starting age, she likes the fact that she'll have the option of waiting a full extra year: "My fall baby girl will have the choice to wait to start kindergarten and will have her birthday at the beginning of the school year."

Having your baby in the fall means that when good weather does roll around, your baby will be alert and possibly even starting to move around and explore, so she'll be ready to enjoy being outdoors. As Brittany G. explains: "I liked late fall. It meant that by the time summer was around again I could actually have fun with my daughter outside." Liz H. agrees: "I had my son in September. It's true that it was hard being pregnant in the summer, but I liked how it was winter when he was very little so it didn't matter that much to him how often he got outside."

Winter Babies

"If you can plan it, have your baby in the winter," advises Pamela L. "You can snuggle up and stay warm. Summer is just too stinking hot." Many moms agree, including Leanne T. “I had three cuddly winter bubs which I loved." She also found the cool winter months prompted her to breastfeed more: "I wasn't sure whether I would have nursed them quite as much had it been sticky and hot."

Another great benefit of having a winter baby is that the cooler temps may make your late pregnancy more comfortable. Anna M. explains: "I had my child in December and thought it was great because all throughout the fall and early winter when everyone was cold I was warm because of my baby belly."

I had a baby in June and my second in February. I loved having a February baby rather than June! In the beginning you don't really have a chance to get out at all anyways so its nice to be stuck at home and busy with a baby and then by the time you're in a routine the nice weather rolls around and you're able to get out and enjoy it with the baby. Plus by the time summer rolled around I could fit back into my summer clothes again! Also my husband is a farmer so when my June baby was born he wasn't able to help at all but then when the February baby was born I got lots of help because he wasn't busy. Also with my June baby I found I didn't enjoy the summer at all bc I was so busy with the baby and it was always so hot and sticky to be breast feeding. I hated going out cause all my summer clothes showed my lumps and bumps and by the time we were in routine and I was feeling up to getting out it was fall and cold weather was moving in. Thats my advice but in the end whatever happens happens, you can't always plan it out perfectly...